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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to pay cleaner half wages if they couldn't get in.

237 replies

couchparsnip · 27/04/2025 12:03

We have a brilliant cleaner who we don't want to lose but I am not sure what the done thing is here and what she would consider fair.
She was due to clean last week while we were on holiday, so we have a key safe so she can get in.

Unfortunately my friend, who was feeding the cat, forgot to replace the key in the safe. So my cleaner arrived but was unable to get in. My friend was at work so couldn't come round with the key.
I need to compensate the cleaner for her wasted time but do I give her the full 3 hrs or 1.5 hours.
She probably spent 15 mins trying to get in and phoning me plus travel time of about 30 mins there and back.
She's employed by an agency and I pay her directly. The agency provides cover if she's sick etc.
Should I cover what she was expecting to earn or just compensate for the wasted time plus a bit extra?

You are being unreasonable - pay her the whole amount
You are not being unreasonable - pay her half

OP posts:
Cornoffthecob · 27/04/2025 12:23

Definitely you pay her the full amount. Then get your friend to reimburse you as it was her fault she couldnt get in. If you want to keep the cleaner do the right thing. If you dont she might not be back.

CautiousLurker01 · 27/04/2025 12:23

She arrived to work. Pay her in full.

In future have two door keys in the key safe so that if one is not replaced, there is still another.

persikmeow · 27/04/2025 12:25

WaltzingWaters · 27/04/2025 12:11

Yes in these circumstances pay her the whole amount. I thought you were going to say she couldn’t get in because she forgot her key or some way she was just being a bit ditsy and couldn’t figure out how to get in, in which reduced or no pay would have been appropriate. But as this was completely not her fault in the slightest you need to pay her the full amount.

This!

NeverHadHaveHas · 27/04/2025 12:25

Of course you pay them. Where do you think she is going to magic the money she lost through no fault of her own? You realise she has bills/mortgage etc? she isn’t cleaning your house for shits and giggles.

JifNtGif · 27/04/2025 12:26

I would say half given she hasn't actually physically cleaned and also had further spare time to herself. She's not your employee, you are paying her for a service so half is generous.

JMSA · 27/04/2025 12:28

Pay her in full. And next time give her her own key.

faerietales · 27/04/2025 12:30

You pay her in full.

Or are you the cleaner and this is a reverse?

SpringGreenOnion · 27/04/2025 12:31

I think it’s crazy you even need to ask. A brilliant cleaner you don’t want to lose and it’s not their fault they couldn’t get in to do their job. They were inconvenienced and their time was wasted. You need to pay them the full amount.

Senzaunadonna · 27/04/2025 12:32

Surely this is a reverse?

Lucyccfc68 · 27/04/2025 12:33

Full amount, an apology and a bunch of flowers.

Whoarethoseguys · 27/04/2025 12:34

She turned up and was ready to work it's not her fault she couldn't get in the House, of course you should pay her the full amount. She will be relying on her income.
Surely if you turned up at work bit couldn't get in through no fault of your own you wouldn't expect your pay to be reduced

TheThreeMiracles · 27/04/2025 12:34

Shouldn’t even question it it’s not her fault pay her the full amount

republicofjam · 27/04/2025 12:34

Are you the poster who got her young son to mark up a bottle of squash because you suspected your cleaner might be helping herself to a drink?

HarpSnail · 27/04/2025 12:34

JifNtGif · 27/04/2025 12:26

I would say half given she hasn't actually physically cleaned and also had further spare time to herself. She's not your employee, you are paying her for a service so half is generous.

This is ridiculous. If you showed up to your workplace and were unable to get in to do your job through no fault of your own, would you expect to have a day of your salary docked because the work didn’t get done and you got unexpected time off? And if the cleaner only does three hours, that’s not a usable period of time to suddenly have free at no no notice, if she’s then got to move on to her next client.

Discoprincess6 · 27/04/2025 12:34

Jesus Christ do you really need to ask

Butchyrestingface · 27/04/2025 12:35

Cornoffthecob · 27/04/2025 12:23

Definitely you pay her the full amount. Then get your friend to reimburse you as it was her fault she couldnt get in. If you want to keep the cleaner do the right thing. If you dont she might not be back.

Her friend was likely doing OP a favour for free.

Some things in life you just have to suck up, and this is one of them.

MidnightPatrol · 27/04/2025 12:35

This is so tight OP.

Trickabrick · 27/04/2025 12:36

What type of person are you to even have any doubt over the right thing to do? 🙄

Chenecinquantecinq · 27/04/2025 12:36

OMFG are you for real get in the bin!!!!!!

QuickPeachPoet · 27/04/2025 12:36

Of course you should be paying her the full amount.

faerietales · 27/04/2025 12:36

JifNtGif · 27/04/2025 12:26

I would say half given she hasn't actually physically cleaned and also had further spare time to herself. She's not your employee, you are paying her for a service so half is generous.

So if you turned up to work to find it locked and you couldn't get in, would you be happy to lose a days' pay?

Chenecinquantecinq · 27/04/2025 12:36

I hope this is a joke because if not you have zero morals!!!!

Cabinqueen · 27/04/2025 12:37

Yup, another vote for full amount payable.

Snorlaxo · 27/04/2025 12:38

Of course give her full pay. It’s “your” fault that she couldn’t get in and she shouldn’t lose money.

If your employer locked you out of your workplace would you accept half pay? Of course not. If that was an acceptable way to behave then people would use that tactic regularly to bully their employees. Eg during their notice period

If you want to claim that money somehow then the cat sitter is the person that you need to pursue.

Anewdawnanewname · 27/04/2025 12:38

If your employer locked you off your computer for three hours would you expect them to dock your wage due to their mistake?

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